Flame retardant composition and insulated wires for use in electronic equipment

Abstract

This invention relates to a flame retardant composition comprising Component (A) being a thermoplastic copolyester elastomer comprising 20 to 80 wt. % of monomeric units derived from a dimerised fatty acid or a derivative thereof and further monomeric units derived of at least one dicarboxylic acid and at least one diol, wherein wt % is with respect to the total weight of the thermoplastic copolyester elastomer; and Component (B) being a metal salt of a phosphinic acid of the formula [R 1 R 2 P(O)O]- m M m+ (formula I) and/or a diphosphinic acid of the formula [O(O)PR 1 —R 3 —PR 2 (O)O] 2 - n M x m+ (formula II), and/or a polymer thereof, wherein —R 1 and R 2 are equal or different substituents chosen from the group consisting of hydrogen, linear, branched and cyclic C1-C6 aliphatic groups, and aromatic groups, —R 3 is chosen from the group consisting of linear, branched and cyclic C1-C10 aliphatic groups and C6-C10 Caromatic and aliphatic-aromatic groups, —M is a metal chosen from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Al, Sb, Sn, Ge, Ti, Zn, Fe, Zr, Ce, Bi, Sr, Mn, Li, Na, and K, and —m, n and x are equal or different integers in the range of 1-4; as well as an insulated wire for use in electronic equipment, comprising an electrically conductive core and an insulating layer and/or an insulating jacket comprising or consisting of the flame retardant composition.

1 . Flame retardant composition comprising
 Component (A) being a thermoplastic copolyester elastomer comprising 20 to 80 wt. % of monomeric units derived from a dimerised fatty acid or a derivative thereof and further monomeric units derived from at least one dicarboxylic acid and at least one diol, wherein wt % is with respect to the total weight of the thermoplastic copolyester elastomer; and   Component (B) being a metal salt of a phosphinic acid of the formula [R 1 R 2 P(O)O] −   m M m+  (formula I) and/or a diphosphinic acid of the formula [O(O)PR 1 —R 3 —PR 2 (O)O] 2−   n M x   m+  (formula II), and/or a polymer thereof, wherein
 R 1  and R 2  are equal or different substituents chosen from the group consisting of hydrogen, linear, branched and cyclic C1-C6 aliphatic groups, and aromatic groups, 
 R 3  is chosen from the group consisting of linear, branched and cyclic C1-C10 aliphatic groups and C6-C10 aromatic and aliphatic-aromatic groups, 
 M is a metal chosen from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Al, Sb, Sn, Ge, Ti, Zn, Fe, Zr, Ce, Bi, Sr, Mn, Li, Na, and K, and 
 m, n and x are equal or different integers in the range of 1-4. 
   
     
     
         2 . Flame retardant composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising component (C) being a styrenic block copolymer and/or an olefinic thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         3 . Flame retardant composition according to  claim 2 , wherein component (C) is present in at least 15 wt % relative to the total weight of the flame retardant composition. 
     
     
         4 . Flame retardant composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising a component (G), being a thermoplastic polymer different from component (A) and (C), component (G) being a polyester, polyamide, polycarbonate, copolyester elastomer (TPE-E), copolyamide elastomer (TPE-A), copolyurethane elastomer (TPE-U), olefinic polymer, as well as combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . Flame retardant composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising component (D) being a nitrogen containing flame retardant synergist and/or a phosphor/nitrogen containing flame retardant. 
     
     
         6 . Flame retardant composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising component (E) being a basic and amphoteric oxides, hydroxides, carbonates, silicates, borates, stannates, mixed oxide-hydroxides, oxide-hydroxide-carbonates, hydroxide-silicates and hydroxide-borates, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . Flame retardant composition according to  claim 1  wherein the amounts are as follows with wt % relative to the total weight of flame retardant composition;
 30 wt % to 80 wt % component (A); 
 5 wt % to 25 wt % component (B); 
 0 wt % to 40 wt % component (C); 
 0 wt % to 20 wt % component (D); 
 0 wt. % to 5 wt. % component (E); 
 0 wt. % to 10 wt % component (F); 
 0 wt % to 10 wt % component (G). 
 
     
     
         8 . Flame retardant composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the flame retardant composition consists essentially of, expressed as wt % relative to the total weight of the flame retardant composition unless denoted otherwise:
 Component (A) in an amount of between 30 wt % to 80 wt % of a thermoplastic copolyester elastomer, comprising 20 to 80 wt. %, wherein wt % of monomeric units is with respect to the total weight of the thermoplastic copolyester elastomer, of monomeric units derived from a dimerised fatty acid or a derivative thereof and further monomeric units derived of at least one dicarboxylic acid and at least one diol;   Component (B) in an amount of between 5 wt % to 25 wt % of a metal salt of a phosphinic acid of the formula [R 1 R 2 P(O)O] −   m M m+  (formula I) and/or a diphosphinic acid of the formula [O(O)PR 1 —R 3 —PR 2 (O)O] 2−   n M x   m+  (formula II), and/or a polymer thereof, wherein
 R 1  and R 2  are equal or different substituents chosen from the group consisting of hydrogen, linear, branched and cyclic C1-C6 aliphatic groups, and aromatic groups, 
 R 3  is chosen from the group consisting of linear, branched and cyclic C1-C10 aliphatic groups and C6-C10 aromatic and aliphatic-aromatic groups, 
 M is a metal chosen from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Al, Sb, Sn, Ge, Ti, Zn, Fe, Zr, Ce, Bi, Sr, Mn, Li, Na, and K, and 
 m, n and x are equal or different integers in the range of 1-4; and optionally 
   Component (C) in an amount of between 0 wt % to 40 wt % of styrenic block copolymer and/or an olefinic thermoplastic elastomer; and   Component (D) in an amount of between 0 wt. % to 20 wt % of a nitrogen containing flame retardant synergist and/or a phosphor/nitrogen containing flame retardant; and   Component (E) in an amount of between 0 wt. % to 5 wt. % of basic and amphoteric oxides, hydroxides, carbonates, silicates, borates, stannates, mixed oxide-hydroxides, oxide-hydroxide-carbonates, hydroxide-silicates and hydroxide-borates, and mixtures thereof; and   Component (F) being further additives in an amount of between 0 wt % to 10 wt %; and   Component (G) being a thermoplastic polymer different from components (A) and (C), and being a copolyester elastomer, a copolyamide elastomer, a copolyurethane elastomer, polyolefin and combinations thereof, in an amount of between 0 wt % to 10 wt %;   
       wherein the total weight of all components add up to 100%. 
     
     
         9 . Flame retardant composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the flame retardant composition consists essentially of, expressed as wt % relative to the total weight of the flame retardant composition unless denoted otherwise:
 Component (A) 35 wt % to 50 wt % being a thermoplastic copolyester elastomer comprising 20 to 80 wt. %, wherein wt % of monomeric units is with respect to the total weight of the thermoplastic copolyester elastomer, of monomeric units derived from a dimerised fatty acid or a derivative thereof and further monomeric units derived of at least one dicarboxylic acid and at least one diol; and   Component (B) 10 wt % to 20 wt % being a metal salt of a phosphinic acid of the formula [R 1 R 2 P(O)O] −   m M m+  (formula I) and/or a diphosphinic acid of the formula [O(O)PR 1 —R 3 —PR 2 (O)O] 2−   n M x   m+  (formula II), and/or a polymer thereof, wherein
 R 1  and R 2  are equal or different substituents chosen from the group consisting of hydrogen, linear, branched and cyclic C1-C6 aliphatic groups, and aromatic groups, 
 R 3  is chosen from the group consisting of linear, branched and cyclic C1-C10 aliphatic groups and C6-C10 aromatic and aliphatic-aromatic groups, 
 M is a metal chosen from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Al, Sb, Sn, Ge, Ti, Zn, Fe, Zr, Ce, Bi, Sr, Mn, Li, Na, and K, and 
 m, n and x are equal or different integers in the range of 1-4, and 
   Component (C) 20 wt % to 35 wt % being a styrenic block copolymer and/or an olefinic thermoplastic elastomer; and   Component (D) 5 wt. % to 15 wt. % being a nitrogen containing flame retardant synergist and/or a phosphor/nitrogen containing flame retardant.   Component (E) 0 wt. % to 5 wt. % of basic and amphoteric oxides, hydroxides, carbonates, silicates, borates, stannates, mixed oxide-hydroxides, oxide-hydroxide-carbonates, hydroxide-silicates and hydroxide-borates, and mixtures thereof; and   Component (F) 0 wt % to 10 wt % being additives; and   Component (G) 0 wt % to 10 wt % being a thermoplastic polymer different from components (A) and (C), and being a copolyester elastomer, a copolyamide elastomer, a copolyurethane elastomer, polyolefin and combinations thereof;   wherein the total weights of all components add up to 100%.   
     
     
         10 . Flame retardant composition according to  claim 1 , wherein component (B) and the component (D) are present in a weight ratio in the range of 9:1-2:9. 
     
     
         11 . An insulated wire for use in electronic equipment, comprising an electrically conductive core and an insulating layer and/or an insulating jacket comprising or consisting of a flame retardant composition surrounding the electrically conductive core, wherein the flame retardant composition is the flame retardant composition according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . The insulated wire according to  claim 11 , wherein the insulated wire is a bipolar or tripolar wire consisting of two or three electrically conductive cores, two or three insulating layers each surrounding one of the electrically conductive cores, and optionally a jacket layer surrounding the electrically conductive cores and the insulating layers, wherein the insulating layers and/or the jacket layer consist of the flame retardant composition. 
     
     
         13 . A connection cable comprising (i) a piece of an insulated wire according to  claim 11  and (ii) one or two connection elements, for connecting the cable to electrical and/or electronic equipment and/or to a power supply unit, fixed to the piece of insulated wire and optionally (iii) an electrical or electronic part. 
     
     
         14 . The connection cable of  claim 13 , wherein the connection cable is a mobile phone charger cable or computer accessory connection cable.